As demonstrated by Melloul-Blamey Construction health and safety manager Deb Henhoeffer, it’s never too late for a person to make a dramatic career change.
After three distinct phases in her life as a hairstylist, a stay-at-home mother for 11 years, and a custom drapery designer, Henhoeffer took the plunge and obtained a part-time receptionist’s position with the Waterloo Region-based construction firm a few months before she turned 46.
“I wanted a change. But I was also very nervous as I was entering a career I knew very little about and didn’t have any computer skills. However, everyone was very patient with me.”
That was 12 years ago and her trajectory from receptionist to her present role where she manages a four-member department was achieved through a combination of factors, not the least of which was the support and encouragement of senior management.
“After a few months working three days a week in the role of receptionist, I was eager to learn more and took on additional duties. The company was growing exponentially so I started working two additional days as an administrator to the project management department.”
In that new extended role, which included completing purchase orders and organizing documentation submissions, she also took on health and safety administration duties and furthered her computer and management skills.
At the end of a year she moved full time into project administration and then, in October 2008, was appointed the company’s first full-time health and safety co-ordinator. There were a number of reasons for that promotion.
“The company was growing in size and the demands for health and safety were also evolving.”
Perhaps the most striking aspect of that evolution was that health and safety had previously been handled by the vice-president of construction. But that person required a co-ordinator so he could focus on the “high-level” responsibilities required of a person in that position, she says.
“It became apparent quite quickly that a full-time person was required in order to meet the increasing demands of the company’s health and safety program. As such, I gladly accepted when offered the position.”
Over time, as the department grew, she assumed more managerial responsibilities and then officially received the manager’s title last June.
Asked what attributes and qualifications enabled her to obtain the promotion, Henhoeffer says her commitment to ensure all of the company’s workers return home safely to their families at the end of the day was the catalyst to pursue as much training as possible.
Some of the courses include basics of supervising, asbestos hazard awareness, musculoskeletal prevention and propane in construction.
In many ways that commitment was honed as a stay-at-home mother of three sons.
“That (staying at home) was very important to me and I was conscious of health and safety.”
Those sons are now adults, all of whom work for Melloul-Blamey. “So that makes me very passionate about health and safety.”
Just a small sampling of her duties include managing the annual COR (Certification of Recognition) program, reviewing and revising health and safety policies, managing WSIB claims and overseeing work re-integration programs for injured workers, and researching health and safety products.
Although she takes time to periodically visit construction sites, those visits have become less frequent in recent years as the demands of managing the department have increased, she says.
Touching on some of the issues and challenges facing construction safety professionals such as herself, she notes that implementing and enforcing current and constantly changing legislation are the largest ones.
“Construction health and safety legislation is constantly changing. And enforcement can be very challenging to older workers who have used the same techniques and processes for years. Then the legislation changes and they are expected to comply. It is my job to not only stay on top of new legislation but also educate the company of these changes.”
A prime example is the Working at Heights legislation which came into effect in 2015 in response to the Christmas Eve 2009 swing stage collapse in Toronto which resulted in the death of four construction workers.
Apart from her specific Melloul-Blamey duties, Henhoeffer also serves as a volunteer member of the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association’s labour-management and publication committees.
“I have also made time to donate blood 78 times throughout my 57 years.”
Juggling those demanding tasks is possible by establishing a commitment, being organized and having a great support team, she says.
Asked to sum up her career, Henhoeffer reiterated the point of the trepidation she experienced when first joining the company, but also a determination to make a mark.
“I was eager to learn and had the drive to prove to myself that I could do it. It doesn’t matter how old you are to make a change. All you need is the right attitude and you can do anything.”
What an extremely inspirational person! Thanks Deb for showing us that as long as we are determined we can do anything we set our minds to.
Congrats Deb on the exposure. A true champion for safety.